Area sees rash of daylight home burglaries

Several area towns appear to be experiencing a long term rash of burglaries.

The burglars appear to be targeting empty homes during the daylight hours and making off almost exclusively with jewelry.

Erving saw two such burglaries last week and the Leverett and Orange police departments each reported several burglaries fitting the “modus operandi” over the past several months.

“We haven’t been hit as extensively as other towns, but over the past three or four months we have had maybe four,” said Leverett Police Chief Gary Billings.

The burglar or burglars have taken jewelry, any cash lying around and in one instance a laptop, Billings said.

It appears most of the break-ins have occurred during the daytime, some into homes left unlocked, and there have been two apparent attempted break-ins foiled by locked doors.

“It’s an in-and-out within just a few minutes type of thing,” Billings said. “Unless you stumble on them it’s extremely hard to catch them at it.”

Billings said the incidents are under investigation and he has been in contact with the Erving and Amherst police regarding the case.

About the only thing residents can do is keep their doors locked and be a little extra vigilant for suspicious vehicles, Billings said.

Given the geographic distribution, it seems likely the burglar or burglars have a vehicle, and Billings asked that people noticing anything suspicious remember to note plate numbers, often forgotten in the excitement of the moment.

In Erving, Sgt. Corey Greene said there were two home break-ins last week and the department is working with Athol and Orange due to similarities with cases in those towns, with parallels in time of day, what they’re taking — jewelry — and what they’re leaving behind.

Greene said the department put out an informational call to residents advising them to lock their doors, and the cases are under investigation.

In Orange, police department Administrative Assistant Brenda Anderson said the town has seen three recent home break-ins, two in October on Wheeler Avenue and Tulley Road and one Friday on North Main Street.

In all three cases only jewelry was taken and the burglaries occurred during the daytime while the residents were away, Anderson said.